Published March 25, 2014 20:15
Source http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/our-communities/Run-at-the-Ridge-is-back-252302501.html
Run at the Ridge will be back for its 11th year on Sat., May 3, and organizers are looking for runners, sponsors, prize donations, and volunteers.
Chairing the run committee is Sue Zajac. She said the family-friendly event is meant to promote fitness.
"Family, fun, and fitness," said the phys-ed teacher at Whyte Ridge Elementary School. "Where families can spend some quality time together being active."
The day includes a two-kilometre family fun run and a five-kilometre fun run, both of which can also be walked.
The run will support eight different recipients this year: Whyte Ridge Elementary School, Stride Ahead Tough Track, Victoria Hospital Foundation, Henry G. Izatt Middle School, The Children’s Wish Foundation, Whyte Ridge Community Club, Winnipeg Boys & Girls Club, and CancerCare Manitoba. Over the last decade the run as raised a grand total of $105,600.
"We don’t usually do eight every year, it changes. We’ve gone to certain charities for different reasons," Zajac said.
The run first started its fundraising relationship with the Victoria Hospital after the death of Darlene Williams. Williams was the chair of the Run at the Ridge for one year before passing away from cancer.
"We put in a lot of money towards the Darlene William’s Comfort Room at the Victoria Hospital," Zajac said.
Zajac said they contribute money to the local schools because they support the run and the families.
"We like to distribute the funds back to the schools to do things that we might not have the money to do otherwise," Zajac said. "So we’ve contributed money to the outdoor playground, to equipment, that sort of thing."
Zajac said the run has grown exponentially over the past decade.
"We started with 300 runners and it’s grown to 1,500 runners last year," Zajac said.
Cheryl Zealand, a committee member and participant, said she has been running in the event with her family for four years.
"We love that it is in our community and it’s a beautiful route, the kids love it," Zealand said. "It kicks off the running season really nicely and being able to bring strollers on the route, that’s important for a lot for parents."
Zajac said though Run at the Ridge is not official under the Manitoba Runners’ Association, a lot of runners of the Winnipeg Police Half-Marathon come out as a warm-up for that race, which takes place Sun., May 4.
Zajac and Zealand said they are looking for volunteers, sponsors, and prize donations for Run at the Ridge.
"We have a really great auction table and we’re always looking for donations and bringing business money into the businesses in our community," Zealand said. "It’s a great way to get exposure."
To volunteer, donate, sponsor, see the race route — and most importantly — register, visit the newly redesigned runattheridge.com